As the crowds formed and push against the chain of police officers, Stephen Hawkings, 64, landed in Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok Airport. Greeted by a rock star's welcome, at Hong Kong University he said "It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species. Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of." He said that humans should colonize the Moon within 20 years and Mars within 40. This is the kind of high profile support Mars missions need. A push from Hawkings can only be a good sign.